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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: pass · wake · can · cold · ruler · wax · current · coach

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  4. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The water is too ________________.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. current — happening now
  3. cold — the Cold War
  4. cold — an illness
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. can — a tin
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. can — to be able to
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. current — electric
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. can — a tin
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. current — of water
  22. cold — not warm
  23. wake — a trail
  24. wax — to grow

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com